简介：Utilizingafascinatingformalconceit,theHungarianpsychodramaDOWNBYLOVE(SZERELEMTOLSUJTVA)isanchoredbyaremarkableperformancefromactressPatriciaKovacs.Necessarilyso,becauseKovacsisvirtuallytheonlyactoron-screeninthefilm,whichalsotakesplaceentirelywithinthefourwallsofoneapartment.ObviouslyinspiredinpartbyPolanski'sREPULSION,DOWNBYLOVEtracksEva's(Kovacs)slowmentalbreakdownasshereconsidersherlongrelationshipwithloverandfosterfatherTibor.Evabeginstorealize,perhapsforthefinaltime,thatTiborwillneveraskhiswifeforadivorce,andthatheconsidersEvanomorethanaplaything.Theinsightbeginstocausehertounravel,possiblywithtragicconsequences. TheartofthisisinthechallengesdirectorTamasSassethimself(perhapswithanodtoRomanPolanski's"Repulsion")andinaworldclassperformancebyPatriciaKovacsthatvividlymeetsthetightframeworkofhisvision.Oureyesneverleavethisgirlortheimagesofherpsychosis.Thecameragripsherinitsfocusforeveryframewhileothercharacterareseeninsoftdefinitionorthroughmottledglassontheperipheriesofthecomposition.And,whilethistotalabsorptionwithasinglecharacterandherfixationmightsuggestintensityoverkill,Sas,hisexceptionalcinematographerElemerRagalyi,andKovacsherselfsovarythevisualandmodalcontextsofthedramathatfascinationremainsconstant. Lightandmakeupturnherintoaspectrumofchangeability.Hereshe'ssemisilhouettedbythewindowlightonadrabday,thereherchameleonfaceisfullylitbytheworktable.Infact,IfoundKovacsanenticingLolitafigureasshebopsaroundherapartmentchasinghervisionsandmemories,exposingadisturbedmentallandscape.HerrangeofexpressionandsensualappealfeedademandingperformancethatshouldbehertickettowiderecognitionandconsiderablesuccessonAmericanandinternationalfilmcircuits.Formymoney,thisBudapestiannewcomerisaninternationalstarinthemaking.DiscoverybyanAmericandirectorisallitwilltaketogetthatballrolling. Thevisualdetailofthenoirishatmosphereisatthehighestpossibleleveloffilmresolution.Whilesomemightconsiderthestorytellingtechniqueabitgimmicky,thedevotiontoitanditselegantrealizationelevatesittocinematicartistry.…